Katy Evans

Election Day is nearly here and let's be honest, there hasn't been anything easy or positive about this campaign season.

Leave it to New York Times best-selling author Katy Evans to sweeten up this sour election with a steamy, presidential love affair.

Her latest novel, "Mr. President," which follows fictional candidate Matthew Hamilton as he woos the heart of the entire country — and a potential new First Lady, is set to release on Oct. 31.

MARA WHITE: So this entire election has been riddled with controversy, hate speech and negativity, just to name a few of the problems. Whatever made you decide to write a Presidential romance in times like these?

KATY EVANS: I'm pretty grateful that inspiration struck a few months before this election truly started to get controversial, and I have JFK Jr. to thank for that. I grew up loving him so much that, when primaries were underway, I thought to myself, I so wish JFK Jr. would be alive and that he'd have run.

That was truly the thought that sparked it all; and once my hero Matt Hamilton appeared, well, he was all I could think of for months!

I admit, though, I had a moment's pause during writing when the election began to get out of control, and I wondered if this was going to be the time for my book. So I set it aside for a month, and then I picked it back up and started reading. And I knew the moment that it opened my eyes once again that it definitely was.

MW: Does anything or anyone in this tale resemble or parody the election, or did you draw from presidents past for inspiration?

KE: I tried to keep the story neutral simply because, at its core, this is a love story, and I want all of my readers to be able to enjoy it regardless of their political views or affiliations.

I definitely kept things real, though, as my characters both seemed affected and preoccupied by the problems and world we face today. For this book I actually did something I'd never done with any of my books, which was research the political world extensively. I loved it so much I'm still reading up on the subject.

MW: It's interesting that they say many women fantasize about the President and it makes sense — a hugely public figure with a lot of power. It's sort of the quintessential position of alpha maleness that romance fans are drawn to. Is Hamilton an alpha? Does he bear any resemblance, even in spirit or conviction, to Alexander Hamilton?

KE: I agree on the President really embodying so many of our fantasies; power is, after all, extremely compelling. But only when they wear it well!

Matt is actually one of my favorite and more realistic heroes, to date. He's driven, determined, intelligent and noble. But he's also a man with his own needs, faced with the usual choices of right and wrong, and carrying his own personal concerns and life goals — life goals which didn't really leave him room for other things. Like romance.

Cover image of Katy Evans’ "Mr. President."

(Courtesy photo)

I would totally say spirit and conviction are something both Hamiltons share.

MW: Do you think it would be possible for a candidate to court or date while on the campaign trail? How does your character manage it? And is Charlotte worthy of becoming First Lady?

KE: It is truly very difficult to court someone while on the campaign trail — especially if you're the hottest candidate that's ever walked America and all eyes are on you because you're an Independent!

Part of what makes “Mr. President” so gripping is the forbidden aspect to Matt and Charlotte's chemistry and connection, the "will they get caught?/will they get away with it?" scenario which is frankly quite delicious!

As for Charlotte, she is the perfect example of "you cannot measure maturity in years." She's young and innocent, and it's one of my favorite characteristics she has, and her presence in the book gives politics a special light that it seems to have lost, a special hope that really shined through for me and made the story all the more beautiful. I think she'd be a very memorable First Lady if she ever got the chance.

MW: I'm guessing you were hoping to bring a little bit of positivity and fun to politics. How does President Hamilton put the elegance and integrity back into the campaign trail? And office? Or do we have to read to find out?

KE: I think what really brings positivity and fun to the politics are two things.

First, the hero and heroine, because of their absolute drive to contribute something good to the world and their absolute love for this country. And second, their connection. This hesitant but flaming, growing interest, respect, admiration, and soon love for each other.

Mara White is a contributing writer to the New York Daily News, where she covers hot topics, breaking news and intriguing authors in the romance and erotica genres. She also writes for the Huffington Post where she conducts in-depth interviews with women (and the occasional man) who write in the genre. She is the author of the best-selling Heightsbound Series, a contemporary erotic tale set against the gentrification and culture clash in New York City's Washington Heights neighborhood. She also co-authors both romance and erotica novels with author K. Larsen. White is a graduate of Columbia University and holds a BA in Spanish Literature as well as an MFA in Fiction Writing from The New School.